Solskjær speaks!

We made it too easy for Wolves, says Manchester United’s Solskjær

And that, my old MBM pals, is that. All that’s left is to usher you towards the verdict of our man at Molineux, Stuart James. Here’s his report: click, enjoy and maybe fill your boots below the line. Thanks for reading this MBM. Nighty night!

Ole’s take. “It was one of those days when we’ve done more than enough to score three or four goals, some great chances, but some fantastic saves by the keeper. Wolves deserve credit because they scored the goals and pounced on our mistakes, but I thought the lads played well today. We created chances, and with ten men as well. They scored on their first chance after the sending off, that’s about 25 minutes after the sending off. The boys have done exactly what they should do, but conceded goals from sloppy mistakes and we didn’t score ourselves. It happens, a couple of bad decisions, but that’s football. You want to trust them to play, and we did play some great football, but that’s a downside when you try to take too many risks. We did well at the start of the second half, Scotty had a great chance, a great save by the keeper again. I think he made four fantastic saves. So we’ve done enough to win but you don[t always get what you deserve. We knew we have to get 15 points probably to get top four, and we’ve still got six games to get those 15 points. We’ve just got to dust ourselves down. A disappointing result, but a very good performance.”

Nuno’s post-match verdict. “It was a good performance. Manchester United started better than us. We were having trouble getting our shape, and they had too much possession. Our team suffered and took a little time to react. The moment we readjusted was a fantastic reaction. We draw, then we managed better the game. And after the red card our task is not so difficult. Of course playing against Manchester United is always dangerous and difficult because they are such an amazing team, and that makes me proud, well done to the boys. Sometimes to bounce back is important and requires an extra effort, so I’m really pleased. If we prepare well for the opposition, we can fight any team. So now we’re going to do it, rest, then switch on and go again on Sunday.”

Fulham are relegated after Watford and Troy Deeney show no mercy

Man-of-the-match Diogo Jota speaks. “It is one more win. It doesn’t matter whether it’s against Manchester United, we have three more points. They started the game very intense, trying to provoke mistakes with balls over our back, and we conceded a goal. But we demonstrated to the people that we can make a comeback, and we are happy with that. We know top seven is one of the highest positions in the table, it is important to reach that place. But we are not obsessed. Every match is hard and we are going game by game. Now we are looking forward to the semi-final.”

Meanwhile at the other end, Manchester United’s bid for a top-four finish takes a serious blow. They remain in fifth place on 61 points, two behind Arsenal and level with Spurs, but having played a game more. Chelsea are on their shoulder, too, a point behind with a game in hand. It’s going to be some scrap for the two up-for-grabs Champions League slots. Wolves meanwhile stay in seventh, the Best of the Rest, on 47 points, one clear of eighth-placed Watford and three clear of Leicester in ninth.

So at the bottom of the Premier League table, Fulham now have that most unwelcome R printed next to their name. Like Huddersfield before them, they’ll be playing Championship football next season. They’rte 19th on 17 points, three ahead of the Terriers having played a game more, but 16 points adrift of 17th spot with only 15 points left to play for.

Wolves were worthy winners of that one. United started marvellously, but seriously lost their way after conceding the equaliser. Wolves always looked dangerous on the counter thereafter; on another night, they may well have scored one or two more. United had chances of their own, of course, but on balance can’t really complain about the result. And hey, life could be a whole lot worse: Watford have beaten Fulham 4-1, confirming the Cottagers’ relegation.

90 min +5: The corner’s pulled back towards Lingard, to the right of the D. He hesitates before wedging it in, by which point Wolves have pushed out and caught Pogba and Smalling offside. That’s surely it.

90 min +3: Cavaleiro chases a long ball down the inside-right channel. Lindelof should intercept and clear, but allows himself to be shoulder barged off the ball. Cavaleiro is clear! He drifts into the area from the right and hammers a rising shot towards the top left. Just too high, as it clatters off the bar and away!

90 min +1: Nothing comes from the corner. There will be five added minutes. And then United nearly score an own goal again! Jonny bustles his way down the middle, then finds Jimenez to his right. Jimenez loses control in the box, the ball breaking to Lindelof, who prods a backpass towards Smalling Corner. Once again de Gea comes to the rescue and kicks clear.

90 min: Jonny races down the left and looks for Jimenez in the centre. His low cross is intercepted by Smalling, who nearly guides the ball into the bottom left for the second time tonight. He’s thankful to see de Gea at full stretch, turning the ball around the post.

86 min: Wolves’ most famous fan, Robert Plant, watches on from the Molineux stands. He looks content, unlike touchline prowler Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, whose brow is furrowed as he desperately tries to formulate a salvage plan.

82 min: Unlike Fulham, United aren’t doomed tonight quite yet. Still plenty of time to find an equaliser that will maintain a fine record of not losing any match in which they’ve scored the first goal since Swansea City turned them round in August 2015. That’s 78 games, 69 of which have been won, the other nine drawn.

79 min: United try to respond immediately, Martial bustling down the right and pulling one back for McTominay, whose shot towards the bottom left is deflected out for a corner. The resulting set piece comes to nothing.

GOAL! Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 Manchester United (Smalling 77 og)

Moutinho crosses into the mixer from the left. Jones goes up with Jimenez, and the ball squirts off Dendoncker, then Smalling, and dribbles into the bottom left! What a defensive shambles. Not sure what Jones was up to, he was practically upside down at one point. Scrappy as hell, but Wolves have the lead!

75 min: Vinagre rolls his foot over the ball and flicks it adroitly down the left flank for Cavaleiro, who runs into a dead end. That was lovely skill, though. They should name that trick the Vinagre Stroke.

72 min: Jota dribbles into the United area down the left and runs slap bang into Dalot. He wants a penalty but isn’t getting it. The correct decision. And it’s end to end, United winning a corner down the right, McTominay heading it harmlessly over the bar.

70 min: McTominay takes, and hits long. Wolves struggle to clear, and Shaw cuts in from the left to make room for a shot. But his effort pinballs around a crowded box and comes back out. Dalot tries to rescue the situation with a cross from the right, but it’s way too deep. Goal kick.

67 min: Pogba hooks a cross into the Wolves box from a deep position on the right. He’s looking for Lukaku but can only find Rui Patricio, who takes with great ease. But United soon come again, Dalot scampering into space down the right. He crosses low for Lukaku, eight yards out. He should be shooting on goal, but can’t control and Wolves are able to intercept the clumsy clank and clear.

62 min: Molineux is bouncing, hopeful of victory now. Wolves are pressing United back. Jimenez has another wander down the right, but once again he overthinks the situation and plays a poor ball. Then a corner’s won on the other flank, but the set piece is a complete waste of time.

60 min: United heads are spinning. Lindelof tries to shepherd a ball back to de Gea, who slides but doesn’t smother, and it clanks away to Jimenez. Fortunately for the keeper, the angle’s too tight to contemplate a shot towards the unguarded net. Jimenez hesitates, and it’s fatal. United regroup and clear.

RED CARD! Young (Manchester United)

57 min: Mike Dean becomes the first referee to reach 100 red cards, as Young overstretches at a loose ball and catches Jota on the ankle. Young won the ball, but the follow through was reckless, his studs crumping on Jota’s lower leg. That’s a second yellow, and could feasibly have been a straight red. Anyway, he’s off.

55 min: Lukaku glides down the left and crosses. Pogba flicks a header on, and McTominay stoops to flash a header goalwards. It’s straight at Rui Patricio, in slow motion. Boly clears. There have been some missed close-range headers this evening.

54 min: Lindelof steams into the centre circle to win a header, and misses it. Moutinho sends Jota away instead. The ball’s shipped left to Jimenez, who tries to return it to Jota in the middle, but overhits. Goal kick, and relief for United, who were short at the back.

50 min: Vinagre beats Fred in a footrace down the left. A firm shoulder charge thrown in. He strides into space and whips a cross straight down the throat of de Gea. Good field position wasted there, because there was only one old gold shirt in the box. Easy for the keeper.

49 min: Vinagre clips Pogba to the ground, 30 yards out on the right. Young takes the free kick ... and once again he fails to beat the first man. That’s dismal. A fine chance to put pressure on Wolves spurned.

47 min: United stroke the ball around. Wolves hold their shape. So Fred decides to have a pop at goal from 25 yards. He sends a looping dipper towards the top left, but it’s always going wide of the post. Rui Patricio sees it out calmly.

Wolves get the second half underway. No changes. Before the teams kick into proper action, we’ve got just enough time to welcome Justin Kavanagh: “Dalot goes in the book for a cynical arm in Vinagre’s face, you say. Well, if United are getting chippy with assault thrown in, the Wolves man can’t be sour about it with a face like Vinagre’s. Sorry, I’ve already got my coat on.” He’s here all week, ladies and gentlemen, try the crispy bits.

45 min +1: And so of course United nearly take the lead again, Pogba forcing the ball down the inside-right channel to release Lukaku, who whips a first-time shot across Rui Patricio and inches wide of the left-hand post.

43 min: Moutinho’s looper instigates a game of head tennis in the United box. The visitors half clear. Neves returns the dropping ball, sending it arcing towards the top right. De Gea does extremely well to claim it under his crossbar, then make sure he doesn’t take it back over the line. Safe hands.